Jim Atwell came into this season listed as the #2 overall prospect in the WPK, after having been at the very top of that list the two previous years.
And thus far in 1978, his first as a big league starting pitcher from day 1 of the season, he has been quite solid, if not exactly spectacular.
Yesterday he gave us all a taste of the spectacular.
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In a dominating performance,
Atwell allowed just 1 hit, amazingly enough a 6th inning double off the bat of the opposing pitcher Kantaro Yasui, as he shutout the Detroit Falcons. In addition, he struck out 14 batters, to put him 2nd all-time in Brewers history in K's in a single game, behind the great Cheol-han Lee, who recorded 15 K's against the Portland Wild Things in a game in April of 1972.
Atwell shares 2nd place in this category with Harry Lyerly, who admittedly struck out 14 batters in four different games in his Brewer career.
Atwell did walk 3 batters and lack of control continues to be his biggest weakness. But his 96 game score in this one is the best so far in all of the WPK in 1978, with Luis Ramirez of Columbus next best with his 4-hit, 12 K, shutout of Chicago on April 20th.
Oh, and Atwell hit the 1-out single that started the 5-run rally in the 5th inning which broke what up to then was a scoreless tie!
Brewers fans and the front office alike hope that this was just a first tantalizing glimpse into the very bright future of the young future Ace.